FLUSHING, Michigan — Mary Smith remembers her son for bringing light into people's life.

"He was very strong in everything he did, his faith, his friendship, school, his family," Mary said of her 17-year-old son, Tom Smith. "He went out of the way to make sure you were in a good mood."

Tom, a Flushing High School senior, died of heart complications Saturday evening in his Flushing home.

Tom played on the varsity football team, was a state powerlifting champion and made the honor roll.

Mary said her son was a friend to everyone, joking that when he opened his Facebook page he had 700 friends within three days.

She will never forget his love for life, which she said was very contagious. She hopes that other teenagers will show the same love of life he did and treat everyone with kindness.

"We are just so proud of Thomas and the impact he had on others," Mary said. "We are truly the blessed ones that called him our son."

Tom is survived by his parents Jonathan and Mary Smith and his brother Jacob Smith, 20, all of Flushing.

Visitation is from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Rossell Funeral Home, 307 E. Main St. The funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Robert Catholic Church, 310 N. Cherry St.